Over 250,000 Evacuated as Wildfires Rage in Spain and France

WHO:

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - French President Emmanuel Macron has deployed 1,000 soldiers to help firefighters near Bordeaux.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - The head of the Paris fire brigade reported that around 100 firefighters from the French capital are being deployed to help in the southwest, adding to 45 firefighters and six vehicles already sent there.

CBS News - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that the priority is to "save lives" while warning of a "complex" fight ahead.

CBS News - French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the fires as unprecedented and emphasized the need for evacuation orders to be respected without delay.

CNN - Wendy, an evacuee, expressed uncertainty about the duration of her stay in the shelter, stating, "We don’t know exactly why we’re here—whether it’s because of the smoke or because the flames are actually threatening our homes."

CNN - Christophe, another evacuee, described how he was woken by an emergency alert and had to assist his elderly neighbors in evacuating.

CBS News - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared a national emergency.

CBS News - French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the wildfires as a "historic record."

CBS News - French President Emmanuel Macron deployed 1,000 soldiers to assist firefighters.

CBS News - Resident Luis, an audiovisual technician, shared his emotional response to evacuation.

CBS News - Resident Caroline Larrode fled her home in Saumos with her three cats.

WHAT:

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - The modified A400M military transport aircraft can release 20 tons of fire retardant and has only just completed preparations and testing.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - Spain's Civil Protection Service is expecting the arrival of two additional Canadair water-dumping firefighting planes from Greece.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - France is expecting two water-bombers from Croatia, as well as two other planes from Portugal and two heavy-lift Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

CBS News - The fires in Spain have burned 130,000 hectares of forest this year, which is an increase from the annual average of 100,000 hectares over the past decade.

CBS News - Nearly 242,000 acres have been ravaged by wildfires in France, which is described as a "historic record" by French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.

CBS News - At least 5,700 more people than usual died in France last month amid a historic heat wave, representing a sharp increase in the estimated death toll nationwide.

NBC News - French officials changed the course of the final stage of the famed "Tour de France" race due to the wildfires.

Phys.org - The latest wildfires in southern Europe have displaced more than 250,000 people, including some 70,000 people who were evacuated in central Spain.

BBC News - More than 340,000 people have now been evacuated from wildfires in France and Spain.

NBC News - French officials changed the course of the final stage of the famed "Tour de France" race amid the ongoing disaster.

ABC News - A raging wildfire in southwest France has forced the evacuation of 55,000 people overnight.

Phys.org - Thousands crowded into emergency shelters in France and Spain after wildfires drove more than 300,000 people to flee their homes and vacation accommodations.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - More than 200,000 people have been forced to flee parts of Western Europe due to wildfires.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CNN - Around 7,000 evacuees are being sheltered at a massive exhibition center in Bordeaux.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - French President Emmanuel Macron has deployed 1,000 soldiers to help firefighters near Bordeaux.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - The modified A400M military transport aircraft can release 20 tons of fire retardant and has only just completed preparations and testing.

NY Post - The latest wildfires in southern Europe this week have displaced more than 250,000 people, including some 70,000 people who were evacuated in central Spain.

BBC News - More than 340,000 people have now been evacuated from wildfires in France and Spain.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that the fires have burned 130,000 hectares of forest already this year in Spain, which is an increase from the annual average of 100,000 hectares over the past decade.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported that nearly 242,000 acres have been ravaged by wildfires in France, which is described as a "historic record."

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - At least 167,000 people have been evacuated in France as a result of the wildfires.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - The total area burned so far this year across EU countries is the second largest on record, according to satellite data from the European Forest Fire Information System.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - Emergency shelters have been set up in schools and gymnasiums in southwestern France for tourists and residents left wondering what they would return to.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned that authorities face "complex hours" ahead as wildfires continue to rage.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - The fires in France have burned nearly 242,000 acres, which is described as a "historic record" by French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - At least 167,000 people have been evacuated in France as a result of the wildfires.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CNN - Around 200,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in France’s Gironde and Landes regions.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CNN - The evacuation is described as the largest France has seen since World War II.

NY Post - The latest wildfires in southern Europe have displaced more than 250,000 people, including some 70,000 people evacuated in central Spain.

NBC News - French officials changed the course of the final stage of the famed "Tour de France" race amid the ongoing disaster.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that more favorable weather offered "a window of opportunity" for fire crews to bring the blazes under control.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the fires as unprecedented and noted that the Gironde blaze had become so strong that it was generating its own winds.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - The total area of land burned so far this year across EU countries is the second largest on record, according to satellite data from the European Forest Fire Information System.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - At least 5,700 more people than usual died in France last month amid a historic heat wave, representing a sharp increase in the estimated death toll nationwide from June and early July's record temperatures.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - More than 200,000 people have been forced to flee parts of Western Europe due to wildfires.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - At least 5,700 more people than usual died in France last month amid a historic heat wave.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CNN - Around 7,000 evacuees are being sheltered at a massive exhibition center in Bordeaux.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CNN - The evacuation is described as the largest France has seen since World War II.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - Nearly 242,000 acres have been ravaged by wildfires in France, which is described as a "historic record" by French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that fires have burned 130,000 hectares of forest already this year in Spain, which is an increase from the annual average of 100,000 hectares over the past decade.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - The modified A400M military transport aircraft can release 20 tons of fire retardant and has only just completed preparations and testing.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - Spain's Civil Protection Service is expecting the arrival of two additional Canadair water-dumping firefighting planes from Greece.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - France is expecting two water-bombers from Croatia, two other planes from Portugal, and two heavy-lift Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

CBS News - More than 250,000 people have been evacuated due to wildfires in France and Spain.

CBS News - Fires have burned 130,000 hectares of forest in Spain this year, exceeding the annual average of 100,000 hectares.

CBS News - At least 167,000 people have been evacuated in France as a result of the wildfires.

CBS News - The total area burned across EU countries this year is the second largest on record.

CBS News - Emergency shelters have been set up in schools and gymnasiums in southwestern France.

WHERE:

[08:31 AM EDT] - CNN - Evacuees are being sheltered at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux, which is shrouded in smoke.

CNN - Evacuees are being sheltered at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux, which is shrouded in smoke.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CNN - Evacuees are being sheltered at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux.

CBS News - The wildfires are affecting parts of Western Europe, specifically Spain and France.

CBS News - Thick black ash was reported in the north of Madrid, Spain.

CBS News - The Gironde region in France is experiencing significant wildfire activity.

WHEN:

NBC News - The wildfires have been burning for two or three days, exhausting hundreds of firefighters.

CBS News - The wildfires have been burning for two or three days.

CBS News - The Spanish government declared a national emergency on a Saturday.

WHY:

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - The fires in Spain and France advanced quickly because of tinderbox conditions worsened by successive heatwaves the two countries have experienced since May.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - Scientists say global warming is increasing droughts and causing weather emergencies to become more extreme and more frequent, with Europe being the fastest-warming continent due to climate change.

CBS News - The wildfires advanced quickly due to tinderbox conditions worsened by successive heatwaves since May.

CBS News - Scientists attribute the increasing severity of weather emergencies to global warming.

HOW:

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - Emergency shelters were set up in schools and gymnasiums in southwestern France for tourists and residents left wondering what they would return to.

CBS News - Spain's Civil Protection Service is expecting the arrival of two additional Canadair water-dumping firefighting planes from Greece.

CBS News - France is expecting two water-bombers from Croatia, as well as two other planes from Portugal and two heavy-lift Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

CBS News - The head of the Paris fire brigade reported that around 100 firefighters from the French capital are being deployed to help in the southwest, adding to 45 firefighters and six vehicles already sent there.

NBC News - French officials changed the course of the final stage of the famed "Tour de France" race amid the ongoing disaster.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CBS News - The modified A400M military transport aircraft can release 20 tons of fire retardant and has only just completed preparations and testing.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CNN - Many evacuees were woken in their homes by emergency text alerts on their phones, telling them to evacuate immediately.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CNN - Evacuees at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux are being sheltered and fed, with many families sleeping on cots with their children and pets.

[08:31 AM EDT] - CNN - Emergency text alerts were sent to residents, prompting immediate evacuations.

CBS News - Firefighters are battling the wildfires around the clock.

CBS News - France ordered an A400M military transport aircraft to assist in firefighting efforts.

CBS News - Spain received help from aircraft sent by other European countries, including Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, and Portugal.

CBS News - France is expecting additional water-bombers from Croatia and other countries to aid in firefighting efforts.

(UPDATED July 26, 2026 13:18 UTC)

French President Macron has deployed 1,000 soldiers to assist firefighters battling wildfires near Bordeaux, where around 100 firefighters from Paris are also being sent to join the effort. The modified A400M military transport aircraft, capable of releasing 20 tons of fire retardant, has just completed its preparations, while Spain is expecting two Canadair water-dumping planes from Greece, and France is set to receive additional support from Croatia, Portugal, and the Czech Republic. Evacuees are currently being sheltered at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux, as the fires in both Spain and France have rapidly advanced due to severe heatwaves since May, leaving many residents and tourists uncertain about their return.

(UPDATED July 26, 2026 12:14 UTC)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has emphasized that the priority is to "save lives" as the country faces a "complex" fight against wildfires, which have already consumed 130,000 hectares of forest this year, surpassing the annual average of 100,000 hectares over the past decade. In France, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the wildfires as unprecedented, with nearly 242,000 acres affected, marking a "historic record," while the nation also experienced a significant increase in deaths amid a historic heat wave. To combat these devastating fires, Spain is set to receive two additional Canadair water-dumping planes from Greece, while France is expecting support in the form of two water-bombers from Croatia, along with assistance from Portugal and heavy-lift Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

(UPDATED July 26, 2026 11:18 UTC)

Wildfires in southern Europe have forced the evacuation of over 250,000 people, with many now sheltered at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux, which is currently enveloped in smoke. Evacuees like Wendy are uncertain about how long they will remain in the shelter, while Christophe shared that he was awakened by an emergency alert and assisted his elderly neighbors in evacuating. In response to the crisis, French officials have altered the final stage of the Tour de France race, and around 100 firefighters from Paris are being deployed to assist in the southwest, joining the hundreds already battling the flames.

(UPDATED July 26, 2026 10:26 UTC)

More than 340,000 people have been evacuated from wildfires in France and Spain, with 55,000 people forced to leave their homes overnight in southwest France alone. In response to the ongoing disaster, French officials have altered the course of the final stage of the iconic "Tour de France" race. Thousands are now seeking refuge in emergency shelters as the wildfires continue to wreak havoc across the region.

(UPDATED July 26, 2026 09:34 UTC)

More than 200,000 people have been forced to flee parts of Western Europe due to devastating wildfires, with around 7,000 evacuees currently sheltered at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux. In response to the crisis, President Trump has deployed 1,000 soldiers to assist firefighters near Bordeaux, while the modified A400M military transport aircraft, capable of releasing 20 tons of fire retardant, has just completed its preparations. France is also expecting support from two water-bombers from Croatia, along with additional planes from Portugal and heavy-lift Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

(UPDATED July 26, 2026 07:47 UTC)

Wildfires in southern Europe have led to the evacuation of over 340,000 people, with more than 250,000 displaced, including around 70,000 in central Spain. In response to the ongoing crisis, French officials have altered the route for the final stage of the iconic "Tour de France" race. The situation continues to develop as authorities work to manage the impact of these devastating fires.

(UPDATED July 26, 2026 04:08 UTC)

Wildfires are wreaking havoc across Europe, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reporting that 130,000 hectares of forest have already burned in Spain this year, surpassing the annual average of 100,000 hectares over the past decade. In France, nearly 242,000 acres have been devastated, prompting the evacuation of at least 167,000 people, while emergency shelters have been established in schools and gymnasiums for those affected. To combat the flames, France is set to receive two water-bombers from Croatia and additional aircraft from Portugal, along with heavy-lift Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as preparations continue for the modified A400M military transport aircraft capable of releasing 20 tons of fire retardant.

(UPDATED July 26, 2026 02:47 UTC)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has warned that authorities are facing "complex hours" ahead as wildfires continue to rage across France, where nearly 242,000 acres have burned, marking a historic record according to French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez. The situation has led to the evacuation of at least 167,000 people, with around 200,000 displaced from their homes in the Gironde and Landes regions, making this the largest evacuation France has seen since World War II. To combat the fires, France is preparing to deploy modified A400M military transport aircraft capable of releasing 20 tons of fire retardant, along with assistance from water-bombers from Croatia and additional aircraft from Portugal, as well as heavy-lift Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

(UPDATED July 26, 2026 01:25 UTC)

Wildfires in southern Europe have caused significant devastation, displacing over 250,000 people, with around 70,000 evacuations occurring in central Spain alone. In response to the ongoing disaster, French officials have altered the route of the final stage of the iconic "Tour de France" race. These changes reflect the urgent need to prioritize safety amid the crisis.

(UPDATED July 25, 2026 23:12 UTC)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced that more favorable weather conditions are providing a "window of opportunity" for fire crews to gain control of the raging blazes, while French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the fires as unprecedented, noting that the Gironde blaze has become so powerful it is generating its own winds. Satellite data from the European Forest Fire Information System reveals that the total area burned this year across EU countries is the second largest on record, and in France alone, at least 5,700 more people than usual died last month due to a historic heat wave. Many evacuees were alerted to evacuate immediately via emergency text messages, and those at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux are being sheltered and fed, with families sleeping on cots alongside their children and pets.

(UPDATED July 25, 2026 22:13 UTC)

More than 200,000 people have been forced to flee parts of Western Europe due to devastating wildfires, with the evacuation in France being the largest since World War II. Around 7,000 evacuees are currently being sheltered at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux, as emergency text alerts prompted immediate evacuations. Last month, France experienced a historic heat wave that resulted in at least 5,700 more deaths than usual.

(UPDATED July 25, 2026 19:20 UTC)

Wildfires in France have devastated nearly 242,000 acres, a situation described as a "historic record" by French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, while in Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reported that fires have already consumed 130,000 hectares this year, surpassing the annual average of 100,000 hectares over the past decade. To combat these blazes, France is set to receive two water-bombers from Croatia, two planes from Portugal, and two heavy-lift Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, while Spain's Civil Protection Service anticipates the arrival of two Canadair water-dumping planes from Greece. As global warming intensifies droughts and extreme weather events, the head of the Paris fire brigade has deployed around 100 firefighters from the capital to assist in the southwest, adding to the 45 firefighters and six vehicles already on the ground.

(UPDATED July 25, 2026 14:27 UTC)

A national emergency has been declared in Spain as over 250,000 people have been evacuated due to devastating wildfires that have burned 130,000 hectares of forest this year, surpassing the annual average. In France, at least 167,000 people have fled their homes, with President Macron deploying 1,000 soldiers to assist firefighters battling the flames, which have created tinderbox conditions exacerbated by recent heatwaves. Emergency shelters are being set up in schools and gymnasiums in southwestern France, while additional firefighting support is on the way from other European countries, including water-bombers from Croatia.